Prepayment meter



Feb. 27, 1945. v p, M s 2,370,480

PREPAYMENT METER Filed June 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1945 oos 2,370,480

I PREPAYMENT METER 7 Filed June 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 PREPAYMEN'E METER Paul Moos, Zug, Switzerland, assignor to Landis &

Gyr, A. G.,, a corporation of Switzerland Application June 19, 1942, Serial No, 447,727 In- Switzerland August 22, 1941.

10 Claims. 01494-17) In recent times-prepayment meters for dispensing: electricity, gas and other commodities have been greatly simplified. The handle for manually operating the apparatus has been done away with, so that the consumer has merely to place the money in the: apparatus for it to func tion automatically; Although such apparatuses are undoubtedly anv advance on previous ones, they are still susceptible: of improvement, inasmuch as they either require the use of any electric or other powermotor to perform the operations, or else require positive controlof the coin in the coin passage. The use of a motor makes the apparatus more expensiveand, due to the constant consumption of electricity or other energy, imposes an additional financial burden on the consumer, while positive control of the coin calls for a complex construction of the coinpassage and accessories cooperating therewith to perform the working cycle of the motion transmitting parts and to control the quantity-supply device. Moreover, in the use of. a motor the coin operates the mechanism by its fall either by dropping onto a constantly revolving drum or by coupling two drum halves together, or. by making a'contact-to control a circuit for supply of current to the motor, all of which may easily cause sticking of the coin at some point in its path of movement. With positive control of therein in the coin passage, as is especially the case with apparatus built for coinsof difierent values, the structure of the apparatus is also such as to require an inclosing housing of large dimensions.

Oneobject of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of coin operated prepayment mechanism which overcomes these bjections to prior mechanisms of this character.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a coin operated prepayment mechanism in which the weight of a dropping coin and an impelling force imparted, thereto by an accelerating device are utilized to'cause positive actuation of tripping or releasing means to'set the mechanism into operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coin operated prepayment mechanism of this character inwhich, upon the actuation of tripping or releasing means, an energy storing device. or accumulator is set into action to operate the prepayment mechanism.

sun another object of the invention is to pro-- vide a prepayment mechanism in which the operation of the coin accelerating device eiiects the winding of an energy storing device in the swing the arm with a certain degree of force 7 iormof a motor spring for the storage of energy tooperate the prepayment mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coin. operated prepayment mechanism adapted for use with coins of different values and having, selective means for adjusting and regulating the action of the mechanism for the control of dispensing means to or less amount of the commodity, according to the purchasing value of the deposited coin.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel, construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

-Fig. 1 1s asectional perspective view of one form of the invention, showing only the essential parts thereof.

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views, showing other forms of the invention. I

Referring now more particularly to the structure. shown in Fig, 1- of the drawings, I designates a wall of the. casing of the prepayment meter, saidwall having a coin insertion slot 2, 3 is the driving disk of the meter, and 4 is a control switch governing the flow or supply of current or other commodity from the vending mechanism, said switch comprising relatively fixed and movable members 4*, 4 the latter being normally retracted to hold the'switch open by means of a spring'ZS. Pivotally mounted on the wall I is a controlling. device in the form of a rocker arm or lever 6 having a free end portion located in line with the slot 2 and carrying a roller 6' which projects partially into and guards the slot. The roller 6" is adapted to be engaged by a coin inserted into the slot, under the pressure of which the arm is swung inwardly until the roller and coin assume the dotted line positions shown, 'A spring 5 is provided to back to normal position when the roller and coin reach such dotted line positions so as to propel the coin downward, as hereinafter described;

Disposed in the casing I below the level of the slot 2 and rocker arm 6 is an open-topped rotary coin pocket or receptacle I in which is pivotally mounted an angle lever 8 normally held retracted by a spring 9 and in locking engagement with a fixed stop- ID, The pocket I is mounted on a shaft I which carries a cam member I I, and said shaft is coupled by a gear train including a shaft I2 and sets of gears I2, I2 I2 with a shaft 20, which in turn is connected by suitable gearing 2 I with the quantity control shaft 2|. The cam dispense a greater I on the shaft l is arranged for cooperation with the switch 4. When the coin pocket I is released for rotation and is rotated through the above-described gear train following the deposit of a coin therein, as hereinafter described, cam is operated to move switch member 4 against the resistance of the spring 25 into contact with the switch member 4 to close the switch. At the same time shafts 20 and 2| are rotated to set or control the vending apparatus for dispensing a certain amount or quantity of the commodity to be dispensed inreturn for the deposited coin. Normally the cam 22 rests on the tail end of the detent 23 and holds its lockingiend tilted upward to a retracted position out of engagement with a stop pin 23'. When shafts 1 20 and 2| are operated cam 22 is turned counterclockwise to operate the quantity shaft 2| and to release the detent 23 which drops down on pin 23', and cam I acts to move switch member 4* to closed position. In so moving the member 4" tilts the adjacent shoul dered locking end of the detent upward and moves behind it and such end of the detent then drops downward and locks the member 4* in closed position. On each operation shaft l2 makes a complete rotation to return the pocket 1 to normal position in which lever 8 will again engage stop Hi and cam II will also be returned to normal position. At the end of the dispensing action cam 22 will be rotated in a clockwise direction through the action of driving disk 3 by shaft 2| and intervening gearing, as hereinafter described, to engage and trip the detent 23 to released position, whereupon the member 4' will be retracted by its spring 25 to open the switch.

On shaft 20, to which is fixed the gear l2 are also fixed a spur gear l6 and a bevelled sun gear l3. The gear l3 forms one element of a differential gear, including therewith a planetary gear l4 and a beveled and spur toothed sun gear H3. The gear I4 is arranged between and meshes with the gear I3 and beveled surface of the gear l9 and is loosely mounted on an annularly bent or crank portion 20' of shaft 20 so as to be rotated by either of these gears and to traverse the other gear in a differential action, in which rotating or rotating and traversing motions it will permit operation of shaft 20 in one directionby gear I6 and when driven by gear l9 will transmit motion to shaft 2|] in the opposite direction. These gears are properly proportioned to drive the shafts l2, 2!! and 2| at their proper ratios.

Gear l6 receives motion from a motion transmitting gear 5 which is driven by a gear I1 on a motor wheel or drum I1 loosely mounted on a shaft ll to which drum and shaft are, respectively, fixed the ends of a coiled motor spring ll, forming therewith an energy accumulating device. The wheel or drum is provided with peripheral ratchet teeth l8 engaged by a pawl or dog 30, normally acting to lock the drum from movement in one direction and to permit the drum to be turned in the opposite direction. The spring is normally tensioned sufficiently to, through the shaft l2 and coacting gearing-hold pocket 1 locked in normal position. The drum is adapted to be rotated by expansion of the spring so as to transmit motion through gears l1 and I6 to the shafts 1e, 20 and 2| to operate the working parts above described for a vending action whenthe lever 8 is released by the deposit of a com.

At the end of a vending action the shaft I l may be operated by a suitable motor, set into action at that time, to automatically rewind the disk 3.

spring IT, in which event it maybe assumed that the motor employed for this purpose is suitably cut out of action when the spring is fully wound or that the motor is simply braked to a standstill by the wound-up spring. In the present instance, however, I have shown the use of means operated by the rocker arm 8 when the latter is actuated on the deposit of a coin for rotating the shaft H to rewind the spring. Such means comprises a gear 21 loose on the shaft of the rocker arm and fixed to a ratchet wheel 21. A spring pressed pawl 26 is provided on the rocker arm for engagement with the ratchet wheel to rotate the gear 21 in a motor spring winding direction when the rocker arm is swung inwardly under pressure of a coin and to allow it to rotate freely in the opposite direction. The gear 21 meshes with a gear 28 fixed on a shaft with another larger gear 28, which latter meshes with a gear pinion 29 fixed on the drum shaft ll whereby, when the rocker arm is swung inwardly, the shaft ll will be turned in spring winding direction, in which operation the pawl 30 will hold the drum I! from rotation until arm 6 returns to normal position and lever 8 is released. The gears 27, 28, 28', 29 are so proportioned as to effect a full winding of the spring on an inward working movement of rocker arm 6, so that upon release of the lever 8 the drum and gear IE will be operated to transmit motion to the respective shafts 12, l 20 and 2| for a vending operation.

On the insertion of a coin through slot 2 the rocker arm 6 will be forced inwardly. In such action portions of the periphery of a coin will bear on the roller 5 and inclined lower Wall of the slot, whereby the coin will be guided until it assumes a position above the receptacle 7. On the inward swinging movement of the arm 6 the spring 5 will be tensioned and at the limit of such swinging movement the coinwill be in a position to be released from engagement with the roller and slot wall, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When this occurs the spring 5 will exert its retroactive force on the arm 6 to move it back to normal position, and this force will act upon the coin to propel it downward into pocket I and against the lever 8, thus tripping said lever and releasing it from locking engagement with the stop |U. As the coin is propelled downward the force of its weight as well as its propulsive force are utilized to insure a positive tripping of the lever 8 against the resistance of its spring 9. The operating parts, which are normally locked from action by the motor spring H by engagement of lever 8 with stop ID, are now free to be operated and the motor spring, which has been tensioned in either of the ways described, will then act through the gearing previously described to rotate the pocket 1 to dump the coin and to rotate the various shafts to actuate the vending mechanism. At the beginning of this operation it will be readily understood that detent 22 will be retracted, switch 4 closed and shaft 2| set into working action, and that in rotating shaft 20 to set the parts for the vending operation gear M will rotate with gear l3 and travel about gear l9.

Gear l9 has formed therewith a spur gear meshing with a pinion l9 fixed on a shaft l9 connected by gearing I9 with the shaft of the This disk is driven when the vending machine is in operation and operates through gears i9 and M to rotate shaft 20 in the reverse direction to that previously described to bring cam 22 back to normal position in which it trips amused dctentsfl to releasethe switch member 4 whereby the switch is opened and the vending operation stopped. In this action gear M is rotated by gear ll and travels about gear 13.

The structure disclosed inFig. 1 is designed .ior the use of a coin of apredetermined value. The device, however, can be used-in connection with coins of different values, as illustrated in the em bodiment of the invention disclosed in Fig. 2; In

this embodiment a stationary coin pocket or chamber .31 is provided to receive the coin from the slot 2, which chamber inciudesan inner wall portion32 and a movable bottom or. coin'retaim in'g plate .33. The rocker arm inthis construction is held in normal position by a spring 5'" and carries at one end a pivoted abutment or guard plate .34 which normally closes the slot 2 and is free to swing between spaced stops 35, 35 on the arm. .A ieeler .31 extends into the chamber 3.! so as to be engaged by coins introduced thereinto,

and this i'eeler is hinged to the axis of the rocker arm and coupled to the arm by'a .bentportion 38 free for unilateral motion. A bell-crank lever-'39 has one of its arms 40 arranged to lie in contact with the feeler and has its other arm 40' coupled to an axially movable gear 4| which meshes permanently vandis slidable along a broad gear .42 which drives. the quantity shaft 21. The feeler 31 is movable to different positions :by different. sized coins and moves the bell crank lever 3S correspondingly to adjust the gear 4 along the gear 4.2 and into engagement with any 'oneof a plurality of mutilated gears 43, 4.4, to transmit, through interposed gearing, a greater or less degree of motion to a rotary control disk 46 fixed to a shaft 41 carrying a gear pinion 4-8.

The gears 43, 44, 45 represent different coin values and are designed to control the operation of the vending device to dispense an amount of the commodity proportionate to the value of the deposited coin. It maybe assumed for thispurpose that gear 431s toothed about half its circumference and gear 44 about its entire circumference, while gear 45 is provided with-one tooth only. The gear 48 meshes with a gear 48' fixed to the outer end of a coiled motor spring 49, which spring is fixed at its inner end to a ratchet wheel 50 with which cooperates a check pawl 5| mounted on a fixed part of the machine and a feed pawl 52 mounted on the lever 39. The lever 39, gear .48 and ratchet wheel 49 are loosely mounted on the shaft or axis 39' of the lever 39, so that when motion is transmitted to lever 39 in a counterclockwise direction the spring .49 will be wound up by action of pawl 52 on the ratchet wheel and gear 4! moved to engage one or the other of the gears 43, 44, 45 according to the extent of movement of lever .39, pawl 5| holding the ratchet wheel from reverse movement. When the spring 49, which is normally held from operation, i re leased .for operation, gears 48, .48 rotate shaft 41 to rotate the disk 45. This disk carries a pin 58 which, when the disk is rotated in the direction of thearrow, closes a switch 4 of the construction previously described which governs the flow or feed of the commodity :from the vending apparat In so doing arm 4 of the switch is moved behind a pawl .23 which holds the switch closed until the amount of the commodity paid for has been dispensed. This pawl 23* at the end of the dispensing operation is retracted by suitable means operated in practice by or from the vending apparatus.

The-means for holding the energized motor and shaft 41 from operation until released for til] shaft '53 is also a detent .55.

position of theparts, and in the absence .of a coin engaging the plate, the lever 53 engages the tooth 53 and locks the disk and consequently thedisk All, shaft 41 and motor driven gear 48' from rotation. The detent 55-is adapted :to engage :a cam faced portion 55 at vthe lower end of a llevci' 51 mounted .on a shaft 51' and to :the upper end of which the plate '33 is fixed. The plate is adapted to swing laterally on the shaft .51" under the weight and impact of a coin striking it so as :to disengage the cam '56 from the detent 55 which assists in looking the disk 53 from rotation, whereby in the tilting operation .of the plate the coin will be dumped and pass 'iI-rom the chamber into a suitable receiver. The upper end of the lever 53* carrying the cam projection 54 lies at one side of the plate 33 in its direction of rotation, so that'when the coin strikes the projection 54 and the plate the lever 53* will be swung out-of engagement withwthe tooth 53 and the cam 56 of lever 151 w ill'be disengaged from the detent, whereby the disk 53 will be released toallow the motor to operate the shaft 41 and the plate 33 will be tilted to dump the parts 33 and 53 will swing by gravity back to normal position and upon the return of the disk :53 to normal position such parts will again "be locked against movement until operated "by va coin.

0n the insertion of a coin through slot ".2 the pressure of the coin will swing the arm 5 to a greater or less extent upwardly, depending on the diameter of the coin and as the coin passes downward it "will'engage the healer 31 by which the lever 39 will be moved to a greater or less extent to shift the gear 41 and tension the motor spring. At the same time spring 5 will be tensionedsothat as soon as the coin is free to move past the lower edge of slot 2 and the guard plate and introducing pressure is removed from the coin the -reaction of the spring 55 will return the arm 6 to normal position and the coin will be impelled with force against the plate 33 and projection '54 to set the motor into action. 'The vending apparatushaving been set for operation, the parts 31,39, 41 and 46 are returned to normal position ggby gravity of the parts '31, 39 or by gearing operated by the vending machine and acting on shaft 41, leaving the switch -4 closed while the vending operation is going on and until it is opened by the vending means at the close of the vending operation.

In the embodiment of the invention s'hown in Fig. 3 there is provided, as in Fig. l, a rotary coin pocket '1, and a coin actuated locking and re- 'leasing'lever 8 coaching with a'fix'ed stop I ll. The coin slot 2 in this construction is closed or guarded by a'pair of rollers 58 mounted on the i'ree ends of levers 59 and 50. These levers are 5?, while the -lever 5 is fixed to said shaft. The

wheel 59' meshes with a planetary gear 52 rotatable "about a cranked portion 52 of the shaft ential gear transmission.

Crank arm 64 is fixed to the shaft 6| and'carries a .pawl 65 which engages? a ratchet wheel 66.

This ratchet wheel is locked against backward motion by a pawl 61 and is connected by suitable gearing 88 with a motor spring 69 representing the energy accumulator for operating the apparatus, with which spring the rotary coin pocket 1- is likewise connected through suitable gearing I connecting the motor spring with the shaft 1 on which the pocket 1 is mounted.

On the shaft 'ID' is fixed a sun wheel 'H of a differential gear including a planetary gear 12 and a sun wheel 13. The gear 12 is mounted to turn on a cranked portion I2 of the quantity shaft 2| on which the sun wheel 73 is loosely mounted, which gear 13 is adapted to be driven by the driving disk 3 of the meter. The sun wheel 11 carries a pin 14 controlling the switch 4 of the prepayment apparatus. 23 is a pawl which engages switch arm 4 to hold the switch 4 closed. This pawl is provided with an arm 15 which cooperates with a rigidlymounted cam-or arm 15 on the quantity shaft 2|. 1! designates astationary channel for guiding'th-e coin to the pocket 1.

The just described arrangement, like thatof the first form of embodiment, is intended for one kind of coin only. When a coin is pushed into the slot 2, the rollers 58 are spread apart and tension the spring 5. By this means the sun wheel 59' and the planet wheel 62 are moved and act upon the sun wheel 63 to cause the pawl 65 to rotate the wheel 66, thus winding up themotor spring 69. When the coin haspassed the supporting points on the rollers 58, the tensioned spring 5 reacts and causes the rollers to impel the coin through the guide channel I1 and into the pocket 1. Therein the coin strikes the lever 8 and releases the pocket for rotation by the spring 69 and causes the closure of the switch 4 by the pin 14 and the adjustment of the quantity shaft 2| to an amount of commodity corresponding to the value of the coin. Upon the closing of the switch 4 the pawl 23, looks it and keeps it closed until at the close of the vending operation and the action of the driving disk 3 the arm 16 engages the arm 15, thereby releasin the pawl 23 so that the switch 4 is allowed to open. I v

The invention may be used for dispensing commodities other than electricity, e; g.,,gas or water.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein shown and described have been given only by way of example and that the details thereof may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Instead of securing the rollers directly to the levers they may be mounted for movement in paths extending parallel with the slot 2 and slidably connected with the levers, so that the supporting points of the coin on the rollerswould to set the apparatus-into operation, the coin pasthe advantage in the latter case of permitting an always be at the same distance .from the slot,

adapting the apparatus to be made for coins of small dimensions, as such arrangement would allow the coins to be inserted far enough into the slot to pass beyond their supporting points on the rollers.

Due to the fact thatthe energy due to the accelerated motion of a coin propelled-into the apparatus as well as its weight are utilized to effect the release of thecoin pocket and the motor apparatus of small dimensions to be built without loss of einciency. The positive propulsionof the coin in adownward direction also adds the weight of the coin to itsstriking force against the trip lever in the coin pocket, insuring a positive release ofthislever; Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1 In a prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a motor, normal ly deenergized power supplying means for driving the motor, an element adapted to be engaged and moved by the inserted coin, to energize the power supplying means for a motor driving action and to thereafter release the coin, a second element adapted to'be engaged by the coin released by the first named element and movabl by the action of the motor to release the coin, locking means for normally holding the motor from ac tion and said second named element from coin releasing movement, said locking means adapted to be freed for coin releasing. movement by the deposited coin, and means operated when the locking means is released .and the motor set into action for operating the controlling means.

, 2. In a prepayment mechanism of the charac ter described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing the operation of adispensing mechanism, a motor,- nor, mally deenergized @power supplying means for driving the motor, an element disposed beneath the slot and adapted to be engaged by the depositedcoinand movable bythe action ofthe motor to release the coin, an element arranged in line with the slotand operative by the inserted coin to energize said power supplying means for driving the motor, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and the first named element from coin releasin movement, means acting on the second named element after the aenergization of the power supplying means thereby to cause the same to impel the deposited coin downward against said first named element and in engagement with the locking means to release the latter, and means operated'when the locking means'is released and the motor set into action for operating the controlling means.

3. In a prepayment mechanism of thechar acter described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a motor, normal- 1y deenergized power supplying means for driving the motor, an element adapted to be en'- gaged by the inserted coin and movable by the action of the-motor to release th coin, means for impelling the inserted coin against said element and simultaneouslyenergizing and rendering said power supplying means operative to drive the motor, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said element from coin releasing movement, said locking means being adapted to be released by the deposited coin, and means operated when the locking means is released and the motor set into action for operatingthe'controlling means.

4. In a'prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing'the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a motor, a rotary pocket;- to; receive the insertedcoin and rotatable by the action of the motor to release the coin, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said pocket from rotation, said locking means being adapted to be freed by the deposited coin in the pocket, and means operated when the locking means is released and the motor set into action for operating the consaid element, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said element from coin releasing movement, said locking means adapted to be freed by the contact therewith of the coin impelled into engagement with the re taining element, and means operated when the locking means is released and the motor set into action for operating the controlling means.

6. In a prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a motor, normally deenergized power supplying means for driving the motor, an element adapted to be engaged by the inserted coin and movable by the action of the motor to release the coin, means movable under pressure of the inserted coin for energizing and rendering the powersupplying means operative for the motor and adapted to be energized by its movement for impelling the coin followin the energization of the power supplying means against said element, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said element from coin releasing movement, said locking means adapted to be freed by the contact therewith of the coin impelled into engagement with the retaining element when the locking means is released and the motor set into action for operating the controlling means.

7. In a prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing havinga coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a coiled spring motor, a rotary pocket adapted to receive the inserted coin and rotatable by the action of the motor to release the coin, means movable un-- der pressure of the inserted coin for tensioning the motor spring for action and adapted to be energized by its movement for impelling the coin into the pocket, locking mean for normally holding the motor from action and the pocket from rotation, said locking means adapted to be freed by the impelled coin into the pocket, and means operated when the locking means is released and the motor set into action for operating the controlling means.

8. In a prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means variably movable so as to be set to variably govern the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a motor, an element adapted to be engaged by an inserted coin of any one of a plurality of denominations and movable by the action of the motor to release the coin, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said element from coin releasing movement, said locking means adapted to be freed by the deposited coin, means operated by inserted coins of difierent' denominations for variably setting the controlling means, and means operated when the locking means is released and the motor'set intoaction for operating the controlling means.

9. In a prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling means for governing the operation of a dispensing mechanism, a coiled spring motor, an element adapted to be engaged by the inserted coin and movable by the action of the motor to release the coin, means movabl under pressure of the inserted coin for tensioning the motor spring for action and adapted to be energized by its movement for impellin the coin into engagement with said element, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said element from coin releasing movement, said locking means adapted to be freed by-the impelled coin, and means operated when the looking means is released and the motor set into action for operating the controlling means.

10. In a prepayment mechanism of the character described, a casing having a coin insertion slot, controlling device for governing the dispensing operation of a dispensing mechanism, a

controlling switch, a coiled spring motor, an element adapted to be engaged by the inserted coin and movable by the action of the motor to releasethe coin, means movable under pressure of the inserted coin for tensioning the motor spring for action and adapted to be energized by its movement for impelling the coin into engagement with said element, locking means for normally holding the motor from action and said element from coin releasing movement, said locking means adapted to be freed by the deposited coin, and means operated when the locking means is released and the motor set into action for operating the controlling device and closin the switch.

' PAUL MOOS. 

